Everyone’s a Winner at Sedgwick Middle School Turkey Bowl and Turkey Trot
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Winning team of teachers in the 2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
West Hartford’s Sedgwick Middle School held its annual Turkey Bowl and Turkey Trot on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.
Seventh grader Evan Watson was the winner of the 2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
The calendar said it was Halloween, the air temperature was like mid-summer, but on Thursday, Oct. 31, the focus of Sedgwick Middle School was on Thanksgiving and assisting families in the community in need.
“This is the first year we’ve done it during the school day,” Sedgwick Principal Karen Kukish said of the Turkey Bowl and Turkey Trot, which usually take place after school. “We’re really trying to build community,” said Kukish, who is in her first year as principal of the middle school, and holding the activities during the school day meant that everyone could watch and/or participate. Families were invited to observe as well.
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Turkey Bowl, which began at 1:30 p.m., pits co-ed teams of eighth graders against teachers in an intense game of flag football. Social Studies teacher Matt Celio, who organizes the annual competition and – wearing a turkey hat – serves as one of the referees, said he thinks this was the 15th year the game has been played. It started about 19 years ago, he said, but was canceled during 2020 due to COVID and a few times has been rained out.
Matt Celio was one of the referees. 2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Some of the players on the field were dressed in costumes – including a fully-decked out Shrek – and many students and teachers on the sidelines wore costumes as well.
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
After an hour of play, the teachers emerged victorious, winning 42-35 after scoring a touchdown with just moments left on the clock. The teachers have won more often than not, but Celio said last year the eighth graders earned the trophy.
Jared Leghorn announces the Turkey Bowl and the Turkey Trot. 2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
As the Turkey Bowl was ending, the Turkey Trot – organized by physical education and health teacher Jared Leghorn – kicked off. Participants donated $10 to run the one-mile course, and the proceeds support Sedgwick families in need enjoy Thanksgiving as well as other holidays.
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
“It’s a win-win,” said Kukish. “It just brings us together.”
Leghorn said that as of Thursday morning, roughly $2,700 had been raised from approximately 250 participants in the Turkey Trot.
While the event was a fun run and not timed, seventh-grader Evan Watson led from the start, and completed the four laps before any of the other students or teachers.
Teachers and eighth-graders who participated in the 2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Winning team of teachers in the 2024 Turkey Bowl at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Start of the 2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Courtesy photo
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Evan Watson, a seventh-grader, was the first to complete the 2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Swag distributed to participants in the 2024 Turkey Trot at Sedgwick Middle School. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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